Have I Mentioned?

In the fast food restaurant

out of the corner of my eye

sat a man, scruffily bearded

like you

with a baby carrier

and a woman, eating lunch together,

not unlike we were

just across the aisle.

The man had on a baseball cap

and would gaze into the car seat every few minutes

so much so

that he woke the baby up.

I know he did it on purpose

so he could hold the child

feed him

and tell him in an unhurried tone

that he was there.

As he lifted the child from the carrier

my attention turned toward the child’s toes

clothed in terry blue pajama feet

reminding me

of so long ago, our

now tall and brilliant son

kicking to the beat

of waking.